We talked a while ago about cheap brass instruments, including the indian Tristar models that are being sold everywhere.

I just thought I'd show you this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FLUGELHORN-by-Stagg-...1QQcmdZViewItem

I just love the words

"FLUGELHORN by "Stagg" , largest seller on Ebay !
You weren`t REALLY going to order one from India??
....so before you consider buying un-branded or unknown instruments from anonymous or foreign sellers...."

Unless I'm mistaken, Stagg is chinese and is no more anonymous than Tristar.

Not only that, I did a few searches, and there seems to be more info about Tristar than Stagg.

They may both be excellent manufacturers, and I've heard good things said about both.

But the cheek of the seller made me laugh.

What next? Kids taunting others "My trumpet is foreign, but it's not as foreign as yours!"



Steve

thats very true - a good laugh - you get sellers saying - buy this trumpet made in britain - but the seller is from hongkong - bit of a hint hey!
i still think that the good old besson cornets made in england are unrivalled in quality though

You are rather,missing the point, Steve, to be fair: Indian brass instruments are an absolute disaster - they make the Chinese look VERY good by comparison - and there are some available on a regular basis on ebay for next to nothing which sell to novice buyers who do not realise that they will probably have to pay customs and VAT on the total cost INCLUDING shipping, plus a post office collection fee, when the instruments arrive. I don't see any problem with spelling that out to novice buyers.

liz

This is slightly off-topic as it's not brass instruments one is referring to... but we bought a good violin from ebay and a friend bought a good piano (tested by the piano teacher as the seller just happened to live locally) from ebay, too. You just have to be VERY careful when buying on the net but there ARE good deals around if you are patient. Ebay or internet selling isn't mostly negative as you seem to imply??? Liz, for example, has good internet offers from what we have heard from loads of folks on the forums, and in fact, we would have bought a violin from her if our daughter's teacher hadn't offered to lend her his small violin. By the way, Liz hasn't pay me for saying this!

That may be perfectly true. I don't know, and the problem is that it's not easy to find information and reviews about these makes on the net.

For example, this is the first time I've heard that chinese instruments are supposedly better than indian. (Taiwanese, yes, I know they have a good reputation).

It was the cheeky nature of the ad that amused me. For example:

....so before you consider buying un-branded or unknown instruments from anonymous or foreign sellers...."

Well, sorry, but try doing a Google search for Stagg. You really can't get much more anonymous!
All I found were foreign re-sellers on Ebay. No information about the company.

Just like what you find when you search for Tristar in fact.

Steve

PS It wouldn't surprise me if the chinese makes were superior. Over the past ten years, the increase in quality of chinese goods has been phenomenal!

Ah well, now, you might like to check out our little page about Indian clarinets

Indian Clarinets

Liz

Oh yes, I know all about indian clarinets.
I just assumed brass instruments would be rather different.

I like your homepage! What would we do without Ebay? Really, they've done what the EU has been trying to do for decades. I buy clarinet pads from France, crystal mouthpieces from Italy, reeds from the UK....
Music books and clarinets I generally buy from the USA. Vive la great exchange rate!

Steve

PS I just realised that if clarinets can be had so cheaply, they'd at least be useful for spare parts!

the clarinets sound awful - and i know next to nothing about clarinets!!!! - but i wouldnt be suprised if the brass instruments are that bad - i wouldnt buy any musical instruemnts of ebay, i only buy instruemnts sold in britain that i can test and have loaned out to me for a trial period - theres not point buying an instrument you've never played if you can go to your local music shop and try all the instruments in store and test them till you know you've got the right one.

Jon, there's a very good point indeed. Price!

You say you know nothing about clarinets. I know nothing about brass and wouldn't buy a trumpet (for serious use) from Ebay. Like you, I'd go to a shop and try some.

However, I do know about clarinets. That's how I was able to snap up a Noblet 45 from Ebay USA for a fraction of the price I'd pay in Europe. Likewise, a Couesnon Monopole Conservatoires that is ranked with the Buffet R13s.

A few hours of TLC and these fine old wooden instruments play with a tone to melt any heart. For less than a third of the price of a plastic Buffet R12!

Remember that as well as individuals selling their old instruments, there are also professional instrument repairmen that advertise through Ebay. Some of them not only have good Feedback, but also have a reputation for selling excellent instruments. Once you know about these people, you can not only save money, but be assured of a first class service.

But obviously, you have to do your homework first!

Steve

definately, before buying anything on ebay-or similar sites, i always google the item and look for it on sites which i trust to provide quality equipment not cheap copies, then is the item checks out i then question the seller to make sure the item is as decribed, its always good to be safe rather than sorry.


ahh, sorry , i'm wrong on that point, but i still think that flugel is absolute.... - im sure you get my drift!

that flugel is impossible to describe without using inaporpriate language!!!!!!!!!!!! what have they done - flugel is a nice instrument - theyve made a right mess of it-- and what is the lead pipe doing attached streight onto the first valve!!!!!!!!! - ive never seen one like it!!!!

sorry - but this is such a band instrument that i have to have another moan!!!

THAT IS NOT A FLUGEL MOUTHPEICE - i dont think it even counts as a mouth peice!!!

Hi Jon,

Although my son plays the trumpet, I know almost nothing about brass instruments.
I found another, much older flugelhorn in Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

I admit the mouthpiece looks different, but the lead pipe also goes into the first valve - like the more modern chinese Stagg model.

Oh, by lead pipe, is that the one with the mouthpiece on?

Is this not normal?

Steve (On a steep learning curve!)

sorry - that is normal - i was being thick sorry

My trumpet teacher won a bid for a "Jupiter" trumpet for 99p. It said it would even come with a Jupiter case. It turned out to be a really ###### Chinese one, without a Jupiter case, and the postage and packaging cost £210. Sooo.... don't be fooled by cheap prices!!! You have been warned!

Stagg are an interesting company (relatively) but I would hesitate before buying any of their trumpets. They make everything from Cymbals to microphone stands to drums to trumpets. Nothing against that but I personally think that they have a desire to mass produce instruments. This means they *probably* have less of a quality control setup. Stagg are a reasonably respectable company- they wont sell you complete trash but their products are entry level in general. I've not played one of their trumpets but I've used some of their other stuff. A jack-of-all-trades company I think.

Stephen

Can you name one instrument company in the whole world that doesn't mass produce instruments?

Even the world famous Buffet does this. They still make their clarinets and oboes in France - or is there still the factory in Germany - and their quality control has drawn a lot of critiscism recently.

Leblanc is the oldest clarinet company in France. Their clarinets - in my humble opinion - are the best.

But you should see some of the other things thay make. I have a 'Leblanc clarinet care kit' that is absolute rubbish! You couldn't find poorer quality products if you tried.

I don't have a Stagg trumpet, but I have a Stagg clarinet stand, and it's the best I've ever found. (I have 6 clarinets and 5 stands).

Over the past 10 years, the chinese have improved the quality of their products. More and more instruments are being subcontracted to China



It's called diversification. All companies like to do it. It's 'business'.

Why do you think Boots used to own Halfords?

Or Sainsburys and Homebase?

Everyone does it!

Except me!

Steve